when you get to the dining room you'll also see the dining room table centerpiece is that big symbol of america, the eagle. nancy clark designed it and made it, it's made with gilded hydrangea leaves. >> [indiscernible] first lady laura: i wish for peace. i hope that all americans will remember other people during this christmas. that they will ask senior citizens in to visit with people who are lonely, that they will work in their food banks, that they will use their good fortune to help people who are less fortunate. i hope also that every american will take the opportunity to thank the families of the military men and women who are deployed around the world right now, defending our freedom and fighting for peace. to thank their families for the sacrifice they have made and to thank those men and women for the sacrifices they make. and once again on this

christmas, like last year, there will be a lot of people with an empty place at the table. those people who lost someone a year ago on september 11, and all of the families who are away from their loved ones because their loved ones deployed around the world in the military. i hope that everybody has a season filled with joy and love and peace. [indistinct conversations] first lady michelle: that is super cute. what do you think? and you will be able to take some of these home and put them on your tree, right? or the window, what do you think? so now you take a written and used -- a ribbon and you string

it through. wholeread it through the -- hole. have you threaded the needle before? like that, he want to make it pointy. it and make a not at the end.- knot you can make get along or you can make it short. you want to try it? you cross it over like tying your shoe and then make another knot. tightly. go, tie it that is the same thing. i like the way you combine the

string. that's a good idea. do you like art? that's very good very gifted, , good thinking. it very creative. lincoln it is one of , the few portraits of president lincoln. you guys are going to switch stations. but as soon as everybody finishes over here. and there is something down there. you are cold? come here. we need to snuggle. are you warmer? have you seen that before? >> [indiscernible] [laughter] you likey michelle: being able to do that? where do they put their ornaments?

are they ready to move? ok, i'm going to check out the next station, let them know when they can move. hello, how are you? oh my god, everything looks great. what do we have? how are you? it's good to see you. i know. i know. i know. i love the gingerbread house, it's the best ever. it's amazing. did you do, how that? [indiscernible] wow. yes, it's granite. so what the activity? [indiscernible] nice, what is your name?

lola? ll, oh look, it's like a real bird. i like the way you put some on the bird too. that is a good idea. you put some silver sprinkles. thank you. i like yours, too. i'm going to try to do a little. the pomegranate is kind of soft. i did not realize. what should i do? an m? i'll do m.o. this is hard. i have to twist it? thank you for that. i was told that i need to twist it.

a little more? i am ready to go. i am ready. i am ready. i am ready. m's are hard to do. >> so are r's. first lady michelle: yeah, it takes a little patience. all right. you see how much patience it takes to do this. [indiscernible]

>> do you need help with that? first lady michelle: yes, absolutely. all right. >> i think you need to open it up? first lady michelle: do you think? does it spill out? [indiscernible] all right,michelle: you are right. we will try. thank you, guys. oh yeah, this is much better.

oh yeah, this is much better. m. o. it's kind of weird when you always have cameras around your house. first lady michelle: you wind up ignoring them. it's a goodg, question but they are there a m.o., and i'ms going to do a heart on the others. side. other this is fun.

i have m.o. and a heart. there is a little bit, a little mixed up. i will put mine in the center. i will check out what they are doing at the next table and i will be back. thank you. >> you look familiar. >> -- first lady michelle: thank you. you do look familiar. where have i seen you before? you ask a good question. i do. what is your name again? >> danielle. first lady michelle: it's good to see you, you are an old hat here, you do this all the time. >> sometimes. first lady michelle: sometimes, it's good to see you. have a good time. what is going on? it is great to see you. you guys are going to show me. show me what we are doing, how do we do it? >> we are decorating lollipops.

first lady michelle: what kind of lollipops are these? is this white house honey? do you know that the white house study comes from these that we keep in the backyard? >> why? first lady michelle: because the honey is fresh and the health -- they help the garden. they help pollinate the plants and the garden. the help plants grow. >> we are making healthy ones with candied vegetables, believe it or not. this is royal icing. try the carrot chips. did youdy michelle: taste these? this is good. these are really good. did you put a little sugar on these? >> we put some sugar to make it a little ornamental. first lady michelle: this is

something. how do you make it curly? when you cut them they kind of splay inside of the oven, they are really cute and they are a good crunch for salad. first lady michelle: we ought to give the photographers some of these so that they can see how good carrots taste. those are so good. healthy, tasty snacks. not bad. so we decorate. now i have to figure out what design. my goodness, this is so complicated. decisions, decisions. what to do. [indiscernible] first lady michelle: this is all

edible, ok, guys? and once you put this on, you can eat the lollipop. i love this. >> this is made of green tea as well. it's very healthy. first lady michelle: oh, my gosh. >> i'm copying yours. first lady michelle: how old are you guys? >> eight. >> six and a half. first lady michelle: that half is critical. >> 10. first lady michelle: how is school going for you guys? boring? you sound like sasha. what do you want for christmas? a wii u.ing -- want first lady michelle: how is it different from the other one?

[indiscernible] first lady michelle: that sounds cool, i did not know anything about that. what else? who else has stuff that they want? >> i want a new phone. first lady michelle: a new phone? an ipod? sasha wants a phone. she can't have one yet. you want an ipod and a phone? she can't call anyone? is it one of those phones? >> i'm not allowed. first lady michelle: there are times to have a phone and then when you get a phone, you don't want a phone. you don't want everyone calling you. >> i have a phone but it's not

that good, i need a new battery. first lady michelle: well what else? what else do you want for christmas? i want boots. first lady michelle: you want to boots? what kind? you want high heels? let me see your shoes. what do you have on? flats go well with that dress. are you ready for high heels? oh you want more. that's a decent heal. heel. first lady michelle: see i don't know any of this, i'm like what? what is that? [indiscernible] meanslady michelle: that you have everything you need. >> and maybe you should share what you have with someone else. first lady michelle: that's an idea.

this would be my lollipop. what do you guys think? >> oh, guys, put up your lollipops. first lady michelle: let's show the crew. , healthy,r lollipop edible, delightful. and the glue is icing. first lady michelle: did we taste this? >> you can taste this. first lady michelle: it's good. thank you. we have got another surprise. hey, man, hi, man, hi, man, hi, how are you? you want to come say hello? you guys want to see?

ok. absolutely, he is all clean. he just got cleaned. hi, man. hi, man. hi, yeah, i know. i know. ok beau, sit. ok, just make sure you watch his tail. yeah, is a good boy. -- p is a good boy. i know, i know. i know. i know, they are all great kids. he probably has tasted some icing on your fingers, and he just had a bath, so he is really clean. i know. >> is very fluffy. it must be fun having him. first lady michelle: i know. you are getting so much love, getting so much love.

so much. all right, let's go, we will let him say hi to all the camera people, too. did everybody get a chance to feel him? >> he is so fluffy. first lady michelle: he is a little puppy. you have three? you have? oh, i love german shepherds and .ali -- collies i can't have one because he -- ia isse they shed, and malea allergic. first lady michelle: he doesn't shed? -- >> he doesn't shed? first lady michelle: he doesn't shed. oh, what's that? bo, you can see he has blue skin on the bottom, too. he is a boy. if you part it, it is not as blue as yours.

i don't know. i love shepherds. he got better. you have a little dog? he is a portuguese water dog. swim.es to [indiscernible] that's why he's called a water dog, because he's blue. first lady michelle: that could be it. that could be it. you want to come in? if you guys have had a pet, let somebody else come in. you want to hold the leash? you've got him? just make sure he is smelling food. yeah. you guys are very good with him, you are very gentle. he is so calm.

he feels comfortable. pet away. [indiscernible] a dog bit me when i pet a dog. one time when i was at my friends house. first lady michelle: come here, come around here, and let me show you something. when you meet a dog, the best thing is to let him smell you, just put your arm out, you know, so you never just want to reach for a dog you do not know. and then you see what the dog is like, because if he is really calm like bo, then you can pet his head. oh, my goodness. so there is no need to be scared, do you like dogs? that's good, i'm glad that incident didn't make you afraid of dogs. not all dogs bite, all dogs are capable of biting, but not all

dogs do. you guys want to finish? did everybody get a chance? make sure, because you want to make sure you get one of everything, ok? thank you, sweetie. all right, i know you guys want to see bo. yeah. you want to say hi to the guys? up close and personal? that is a good one. what are you going to do with that shot? >> nothing. [laughter] first lady michelle: all right you guys, happy holidays. good to see you. thanks so much. banks so much. you guys got a good bo viewing. they no longer care. they are back to the ornaments. how are you? just opening the house to visitors. we are going to have more than 90,000 people here, and the kids

being able to experience the wonders of this house, seeing it is really a blessing. we are ready to get to work. all right, you guys come out ok, -- ok guys, i'm going to go. happy holidays! >> bye! first lady michelle: thank you for sharing! make sure you get an ornament and a lollipop, ok? bye, sweetie. thanks so much. bye, gorgeous. bye, sweetie, keep up with school, ok? work hard. thanks so much. it is great to have you guys here. bye-bye. [indiscernbile] first lady michelle: that name is familiar, is that your mom?

oh, i know she's proud of you. have fun. this was really good. i have to gotoo, to a meeting. goodbye sweetness, it was good to see you again. bye gorgeous, thank you for being here and sharing this holiday. all right you guys, thank you, bye-bye. good doggy. >> here's a look at some of our featured programming this holiday week, thursday at 5:45, a joint economic committee hearing on the high cost of raising a family. at 9:10, constitutional litigator justin pearson talks about occupational licensing requirements at the federalist society. >> there are three types of with theional abuses,

former slaves and their allies, they would have their right to vote taken away, and the right to be self-sufficient taken away , you actually hear these horror stories of a freemen being forced to go back and work for former slaveowners because of occupational licensing laws preventing them from being able to sell -- to be self-sufficient. >> watch this holiday week on c-span. >> our c-span campaign 2020 bus team is traveling across the country asking voters what issues should presidential candidates address? >> i really want to know what our future president or any other candidate will do regarding jobs. the jobs market and the economy. the united states must have a strong economy, we are a huge nation and we provide a lot of information and product throughout the world. i really do hope that the next

president, no matter who they are, man woman, democrat, republican, that they will defend our jobs and help our economy, not heard it. >> some of the issues i would like the candidates to truckle are the student debt crisis, reproductive rights, and homelessness. it's vital for women to be able to choose what they want to do with their bodies, on either side. >> the question i have is what are you going to do about the palestinian israeli crisis? ignorefair to completely the humanitarian situation and the injustice happening in palestine and just the whole issue in gaza with what's been happening. you can't just ignore the palestinian people and what they want to do, because we are all humans and there has to be some compromise. there has to be some kind of agreement that we can all come to because at the end of the day we want to live just like you want to live.

i want presidential candidates to acknowledge what's going on in the community, but especially with black communities and police brutality , with police getting off on things they should not get off on, 10 years for killing someone in their home, it feels like that should be addressed and it should be known that you cannot do that and it's not ok just because you have some power. >> voices from the road on c-span. announcer: next, a discussion about religious liberty and the law with kelly shackelford and the former general counsel, don clark. this is just under an hour and a half. [applause] dr. thistlethwaite: good evening.